Their mission is to identify cities throughout the nation and, at each location, join forces with an established organization already combating issues such as poverty, abuse, and homelessness at a local level. They then reach out to local musicians in each city to create a benefit concert series, and all funds raised at the show are infused directly back into the community through a donation to the partner organization.

Their next effort? Tonight they’ve got a fantastic lineup at the 40 Watt in Athens, partnering with an organization called Whatever It Takes, supporting their effort to fight poverty by promoting education in Athens. The benefit will feature some of Athens’ best talent including Futurebirds, Patterson Hood (guitarist and vocalist for Drive By Truckers), Claire Campbell (of Hope For Agoldensummer), Woodfangs, and My Cousin, The Emperor.

“One of the core principles of the Whatever It Takes initiative is collaboration with other organizations to maximize the effect we all have on our community,” said Ryan Lewis, Communications Director of Whatever It Takes. “Partnering with Poverty Is Real and the participating musicians and local businesses gives us an opportunity to showcase the creativity that makes Athens such a special town while providing people with an easy and fun way to help all children in Athens succeed in life.”

Saving them from immediate closure was one step, but keeping them alive is another task. It’s rumored that SCR has saved the best benefit concert for last, and that this weekend’s “Real Criminal Records Benefit” is the final survival effort show.

The Cottage in East Atlanta is hosting Saturday’s “Real Criminal Records Benefit” that’s presenting one of the best lineups of Atlanta-area bands this year. The show is presented by The Cottage, Goldsoundz on WREK, Wholly Roller, Little Advances, Industrial Strength Promotions, Earth Shaking Music, and Casey Yarbrough and Order of the Owl.

The benefit’s lineup features some Atlanta favorites: A Smart, Mediocre Machine, Nomen Novum, Places, New Animal, Small Reactions and Christ-Lord. While Qurious was on the original bill, they’ve bowed out and it’s fitting that Wowser Bowser fills their slot before opening up for Athens pop-outfit, Reptar. You may recognize Reptar from their recent tours with Foster the People and Phantogram.

Here is the full lineup:

6:30PM - A Smart
7:15PM - Mediocre Machine
7:45PM – Nomen Novum
8:15PM - Places
8:45PM - New Animal
9:30PM - Small Reactions
10:15PM - Christ, Lord
11:00PM - Wowser Bowser
11:45PM - Reptar

For those unfamiliar with The Cottage, I’ll provide a little more insight on one of Atlanta’s budding concert venues. The Cottage is a vintage house located about a mile away from East Atlanta Village. It serves to record bands and put on lively house shows. There will be two stages this Saturday evening. Between bands, we recommend checking out the excellent patio space, as well as a rope swing and view of East Atlanta Stone Quarry.

The show is just $5 with all proceeds going to Criminal Records. There will be cheap drinks and catered food. It’ll be a wonderful Saturday evening to spend with some of Atlanta’s best.

Photo by Phil Dokas

Mangum will be playing one solo show in Atlanta at Variety Playhouse on February 1 and two solo shows at Athens’ 40 Watt Club on February 10 and 11. Tickets for these shows go on sale today, Friday, November 11, at noon. Expect to spend over $30 a ticket. There is a 4 ticket limit per show.

Pick up your tickets here:

Wednesday, February 1 at Variety Playhouse

Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11 at the 40 Watt

Crown Royal recently released its premium whiskey in a limited edition black bag designed by Big Boi as part of its The Crown Life campaign. To celebrate the release, they threw an invite-only party at Atlanta’s Door 44, where Big Boi was on hand for interviews and an impromptu live performance with local hip-hoppers Pill, Killer Mike and others.

Here’s what Big Boi had to say about his Crown Royal collaboration.

First of all, thanks for all the food and drinks.

Anytime, man. You know, I try to be hospitable.

You’ve been very good about giving back to the local community, from your collaboration with the Atlanta Ballet a few years ago to the multimedia street festival you did last Winter with gloATL. How would you say this Crown Royal Black project is giving back to the community?

Basically, it’s a great branding opportunity. What I dig most about it is the creative input I had on designing the bag. The bag’s been the same for over a century, so for them to let me come in and promote something and help market something in a way that I can have my hands on it, not just drinking it, but by giving it a new look, that was a fun challenge to me.

I give back to the community my own way, through my Big Kidz Foundation and things like that. It ain’t like the liquor’s going hand-in-hand with the Foundation, it’s just part of what I do.

You also did a video to promote the Crown Royal Black project. What’s the video about?

I shot a little ten minute documentary about my life and it just really kind of documented a couple of days of me going around, performing in L.A., then we came back to Atlanta and followed me throughout the day. We’re just giving people a personal insight into me and my life. The Crown Life experience is about those crowning moments in life, those special moments you just want to remember. You might want to kick back and celebrate your kid’s graduation or you might have gotten a promotion at your job, or anything, you know what I’m saying? Those special moments in life that you want to celebrate. It might be the last day of school for you, if you’re a college student or whatever. The whole thing is it’s those moments that are special to you.

When it comes to actually drinking Crown Royal Black, how do you prefer it? What do you like to mix it with?

Apple juice. I call it the “Kinfolk” because it takes the edge off a little bit. It makes it a little smoother and the ladies like it.

And that’s always important.

Fo sho.

What do you garnish the Kinfolk with?

I might put a little piece of pineapple in there, or some tangerine. Just a little something something. Not too much. It don’t need much, you know what I’m saying?

Do you plan on working with Crown Royal on any additional projects in the future?

There’s some talks going on in the back rooms, you know what I’m saying? The launch has been going really good so far. We just did Orlando. We had an event in Houston that went really nice. Then we had Chicago, Detroit and another upcoming event in Atlanta. So we’re moving right along, bringing awareness to let everybody know this is out there, it’s The Crown Life and it’s summertime, so just sit back and relax.

Crown Royal Black is not a limited edition item, but the bag you designed is. How long will it be available with the limited edition bag?

Good question. I’m not really sure. For a minute. It depends on how many they’re selling. But it’s already in stores. It came out last week, I believe.

I refrained from posting this a few months ago because I thought it was absolutely ridiculous that Yo Gabba Gabba doesn’t allow video embeds. I didn’t want to completely deprive you junkies of Athens’ Of Montreal, so now I will bestow upon you a link to the clip…

Check out Of Montreal on Yo Gabba Gabba.

I’ve been obsessing over this Portland band for at least a solid month now… The Builders and The Butchers. For fans of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Decemberists.

One of the best new indie rock bands of 2009? Try Cymbals Eat Guitars out for size. Rock out with your windows rolled down to this one.

Atlanta’s sweet and lush, Tealights. Our buddies over at Resonator have said it best.

A chick I wasn’t expecting to grab me half as much as she has is Verve’s Elizabeth & The Catapults. Gorgeous voice, amazing instrumentation and beautiful depth in this tight summery pop track. She has a Fiona Apple bluntness, Anya Marina groove, and an indie coolness even though there are definite flashes that resemble the jazziness of Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me.”

The Depreciation Guild is the main project for Kurt, the drummer in The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. It’s a mix of shoegazer, indie rock and electro pop which, of late, is always a winning combo. They will be playing at The Earl on September 28 with aforementioned Cymbals Eat Guitars and Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.

As soon as you walk onto their floor, you’re surrounded by walls of plastic boards autographed by every artist you could imagine — from Paul McCartney to Mastodon to Vampire Weekend.

While taking a tour of each of the studios, soundbooths, and so forth, I spotted a few Atlanta artists on the myriad of autograph boards around each corner…

Gringo Star:

Sister Hazel:

Julia gave me a peak as to how each of the channels scheduled their programming, including their Blog Radio show which features the likes of DaFC acquaintance, Aquarium Drunkard, Hipster Runoff, Gorilla Vs Bear, etc. I was a tiny bit envious!

I eventually pulled up to a free desk, flipped on XM U so I could rock out the Download 15 including current obsession, Dinosaur Jr’s “See You,” and now blogging for you to have a little peak into the world that is Sirius/XM while Julia gets some work done.

The infamous Howard Stern’s studio:

Martha Stewart’s studio:

The Opie & Anthony Show:

Some of the Sirius/XM Studios’ offices:

This room was huge and apparently freezing if I was to actually walk in it…

Sirius/XM — Feel free to give Drive A Faster Car a call when you’re ready to expand that Blog Radio show and need some Southern presence!

We woke up that morning, ate some bagels from the Polish bakery, argued about James taking too long to get ready, and then headed out, saying goodbye to our gracious hosts Dave and Alex. Getting out of the city, via the Verrazano bridge and Staten Island, wasn’t too bad. Then came the Jersey Turnpike. Listen, Jersey is a lot nicer then it gets credit for, but the Turnpike isn’t doing anything to dissuade people of the notion that “New Jersey” is code for “everything that is nasty about America.” An example: At one of the price-gouging travel centers, Daniel encountered a pile of used batteries in the toilet.

We had to get to Durham by 9 that night, so it was another day of driving, driving, driving. There ain’t much to report other than I-95 hangs out with I-85 in the Sucky Highways Club, and that we really need a booking agent, so we can stop taking undertaking fool “weekend” excursions like this.

We played at a house show in Durham with two great and unusual bands, Waumuss and Polynya, as well as the estimable Kurt Heasley of the Lilys (one of my faves of the 90s). It was a nice change of pace after the genius of Permanent Ability. Craig’s house is a fabulous 1920s bungalow that made me extremely envious. It’s shower was one of the best I’ve ever showered in, and he was a totally gracious host.

Of course, right as we were about to set up and play… the cops showed up. This happened to us a month ago! Seriously, we were about to hit our first note and they arrived and told us to quiet down. We decided to soldier on with me playing brushes and everybody playing quiet. It went okay, starting pretty soft and then getting louder and louder. There was a nice crowd of people who stuck around to watch us play, including tons of rad girls. Durham, you’re alright! Except for you, Mr. Harass Me About My Brushes In The Kitchen. You, sir, are not all right.

We stayed up pretty late that night partying, so the next day was spent in full-on recovery mode. We left Craig (and his amazing shower), and hit the road to Columbia, SC, where a fateful Sunday show awaited us. Along the way, we stopped at Christian North Carolina fast food chain Cook Out, where we had weird milkshakes (Fresh watermelon! Cheerwine! Banana pudding!) and a 99 cent BLT. When we got to Columbia, SC, the venue was surprisingly crowded. Load-in was breezy, and all of the bands we played with were good, especially Dignan, a Texas band we’d played with at SXSW. They matched up with us perfectly (and maybe made us a little jealous!), and it was great to see them again. 77 people paid! On a Sunday! It was nice to end the mini-tour on a up note like that. James drove us home that night and made it from Columbia to Athens in 2 and a half hours. It was a harrowing trip, to be sure, but it was nice to be home in the Georgia humidity.

Daniel can’t find his iPod, though.

The Coathangers
Judi Chicago, Can Can,
Wednesday, July 15
The Earl
8:30PM | $8 | 21+

To win a pair of tickets to see The Coathangers at The Earl on Wednesday, July 15, enter via email with your full name and tell me why you should win the tickets. One winner will be chosen at random from the rule abiding contestants and notified via email by 3PM on the day of the show. Upon confirmation, the winner will receive two tickets which they will receive at Will Call. You must be able to confirm by 5PM EST.

[mp3] The Coathangers – Shut The Fuck Up
[mp3] Judi Chicago – Burger Joy